CCIV 153, Single Combat in the Ancient world, is a seminar which celebrates the clash of warriors in warfare, sport and spectacle in the Classical World.   Using primary sources and archaeological evidence, the class surveys traditions of combat in ancient art, literature and society, beginning with Greek and Near Eastern epic, the ancient Olympic combat sports of boxing, wrestling and pankration, and finally Roman gladiator spectacle.  We will examine the role of violent sport in Greek and Roman society, the reception of the competitors, and the use of these events for political or nationalistic ends.

While the course explores concepts such as honor, excellence, military ethics and violence in the classical world, this site is a space for personal reflection about these values where they appear in the media and in our modern lives.